CDFA on the Chopping Block
Unfortunately, due to the State’s fiscal meltdown and the subsequent impact it has on every program and activity conducted by state and local governments, budget-related issues will be an ongoing subject for the foreseeable future. A list of proposed agency consolations and reforms that will be reviewed by the appropriate Senate policy committees provides one example of how crazy the situation is becoming. Within the next couple of weeks the Senate Food & Agriculture Committee will examine a proposal to dismantle the Department of Food & Agriculture. The proposal eliminates and transfers pest control activities to the Department of Pesticide Regulation; transfers Weights and Measures activities to the Department of General Services; and, transfers oversight and administration of fairs and expositions to counties. Additionally, 54 agricultural marketing order and
commissions would be abolished with the intent of re-establishing them as private, non-profit corporations. Although it’s unlikely this specific proposal will gain much traction, the enormity of the budget crisis may trigger a significant restructuring of state government. If this proves to be the case, many programs of importance to agriculture will…for better or worse…be affected.
Legislative Update
One of the major food safety bills, AB 1372 (Feuer), was held (at least for now) in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill would have required food processors to adopt and implement Hazard Analysis& Critical Control Points Plans. Several other bills of interest passed their respective fiscal committees and are now pending on either the Senate or Assembly floors:
Pierce’s Disease – SB 2 (Wiggins) Extends statutory authorization of the Pierce's Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Pierce's Disease Management Account in the Food and Agriculture Fund until March 1, 2016.
Food Safety – SB 173 (Florez) Requires growers and food processors to conduct testing to determine the presence of a microbe, pathogen, poisonous chemical, or other harmful substances that may cause food-borne disease, to maintain accurate records and to report positive test results to the Department of Public Health. The bill also creates a mandatory recall system, requiring the State Public Health Officer to recall food that may carry an illness, infection, pathogen, contagion, toxin, or condition that, without intervention, could transmit an illness.
Milk Pooling - SB 362 (Florez) Amends the Gonsalves Milk Pooling Act to allow producer-handlers operating outside of the pool to make deductions for all of their production from Class 1 sales before being required to account to the pool. The bill would also delete certain provisions relating to the participation of milk production of exempted producer-handlers in either the base pool or overbase pool and to the transfer by a producer-handler of the option to join or to operate outside the pool. Additionally, dairies that produce and process raw milk will be allowed to opt out of the pool.
Antibiotics - SB 416 (Florez) This bill would limit the use of antibiotics by licensed veterinarians to prevent and control disease in animal agriculture. Additionally, this bill was amended to require school districts to make every effort to purchase poultry and meat products that have not been treated with non-therapeutic antibiotics.
AB 281 - Citrus Disease Prevention (De Leon) Authorizes the establishment of the 17 member California Citrus Disease Prevention Committee within CDFA. The industry funded committee would be authorized to conduct, and contract with others to conduct, informational programs to educate residential owners of citrus fruit on the prevention of diseases or vectors specific to citrus and programs for surveying, detecting, and analyzing citrus diseases.
Apple Pests - AB 443 (Galgiani) Implements the California Apple Pest and Disease Prevention Act of 2009 to ensure that apples produced or handled in the state are pest and disease free. The program would be administered by an appointed 11 person committee acting with the concurrence of the Secretary of Food & Agriculture. The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the secretary of designated pests and diseases not already present or identified in California as of January 1, 2007,
Blueberry Commission - AB 606 (Ma) Authorizes the establishment of a California Blueberry Commission to promote research, marketing and education regarding California's blueberry industry.
Truck Replacement Funds
The California Air Resource Board has launched the Voucher Incentive Program (VIP), a new, streamlined option funded through the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Attainment Program. More than $15 million is available through the program, which is open to any owner to fund heavy-duty truck replacements statewide. Between $30,000 and $35,000 is available per grant, depending on the age of the truck. Trucks with 1993 and older engines are eligible. Grants are made on a first-come, first-served basis and applications will be approved within five business days.
Eligible trucks must operate 75 percent of the time in California but need not be based in the Valley. Additional criteria include:
- Fleet size must be no more than three heavy-duty diesel trucks.
- Old trucks must have a 1993 or older engine.
- Trucks must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles with a declared combined weight greater than 60,000 pounds (Class 8).
- Trucks must have operated more than 30,000 miles per year or consumed 4,700 gallons of diesel fuel per year in each of the previous two years. In cases where one truck did not earn enough mileage, the operator may retire two trucks for one replacement to meet the usage requirement.
- Trucks must be operational and have been registered in California for each of the last two years (partial registration for at least three months per year is eligible).
The replacement truck(s) must meet at least 2007 emission standards and be purchased through a participating dealership, and the old truck destroyed. Trucks purchased through the program are subject to three-year reporting. For additional program information or to apply for a voucher, call the grants and incentives department at (559) 230-5800 or ARB's diesel hotline at 1-866-6DIESEL. Check www.valleyair.org for website updates and to sign up for automated e-mail information or ARB's website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm
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